Vacuum drain

ABSTRACT

A diaphragm valve mounted on a wall connects a sink trap and an air bleeder line to a vacuum line. The valve is opened by opening to atmosphere a reservoir supplied with air under pressure through a foraminous reducing valve.

United States Patent Austin, Jr.

[ July 29, 1975 VACUUM DRAIN George K. Austin, Jr., PO. Box 209, RL 2 Box 254, Newberg, Oreg. 97132 Filed: Mar. 18, 1974 Appl. No: 451,988

Inventor:

U.S. Cl. 137/2l6.l; 137/218; l37/247.13; 137/625.4

Int. Cl. Fl6k 45/00 Field of Search l37/2l6.l, 218, 236, 247.13, 137/344, 625.4; 4/77, 78

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Russell l37/2l6.l

Burn 4/77 3,286,722 11/1966 Royer 137/218 3,382,885 5/1968 Cutler 137/2l6.1 3,593,745 7/1971 Myers l37/625.4

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 603,081 9/1934 Germany 137/344 Primary ExaminerHarold W. Weakley Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Klarquist, Sparkman, Campbell, Leigh, Hall & Whinston [57] ABSTRACT A diaphragm valve mounted on a wall connects a sink trap and an air bleeder line to a vacuum line. The valve is opened by opening to atmosphere a reservoir supplied with air under pressure through a foraminous reducing valve.

11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures VACUUM DRAIN DESCRIPTION This invention relates to an improved vacuum drain, and has for an object thereof the provision of an improved vacuum drain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drain valve having an annular outer passage connected to a sink trap and an air bleeder line. an inner passage connected to a vacuum line. and a diaphragm movable between a position closing the outer passage from the inner passage and a position connecting these passages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foraminous reducing valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drain valve controlled by air under pressure in reservoir supplied flow regulating means.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partially schematic perspec' tive view ofa sink and an improved vacuum drain forming one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary. vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings. there is shown therein a vacuum drain forming one embodiment of the invention and connected to a sink 12, which receives water from a faucet 14 having a handle 16. The drain includes a fitting l8 connecting a drain outlet of the sink to a trap hose 22 ofa tough, stable, plastic material. A diaphragm valve including a cylindrical body 32 is secured by capscrews 34 to a wall 36 on which the support for the sink is mounted. The valve has another inlet port 38 in which a metal connector 40 is sealed. The hose 22 is connected to the connector 40.

The valve body 32 has an annular inlet chamber into the bottom side of which the inlet port 38 opens. An air bleeder hose 52 having a muffler 54 on its free end is connected to a metal connector 56 sealed in an upper inlet port 58 opening into the top side of the annular inlet chamber 50. An inner, tubular boss 60 defines the inner wall of the annular inlet chamber and has a passage 63 leading to an outlet port 62 connected by a connector 64 to a vacuum hose 65 leading to a source of vacuum (not shown) for draining the hose 65.

The valve 30 also includes a flexible, sealing diaphragm disc 66 and a diaphragm cap 68 secured by capscrews 70 to the valve body and forming a diaphragm chamber 72 with the diaphragm disc 66. A compression spring 69 seated in the bottom of the annular inlet passage urges the diaphragm disc toward an open position away from rounded valve seat 71. The cap 68 has a tapped tubular outlet 74 connected to a control hose 76 connected to an outlet of a reservoir The reservoir 78 is continuously connected through a restrictor 80 and a hose 82 to a source of air under pressure (not shown). When any of manually controlled dumping or exhaust valves 84, 86 and 88 is opened. that valve, through line 90. 92 or 94 connecting that valve to the atmosphere. empties the reservoir (and control hose 76) of high pressure air. This reduces the pressure in the diaphragm chamber 72 to permit the spring 69 to move the diaphragm away from its closed position sealingly engaging the seat 71 to its open shown in full lines in FIG. 2. Water is then drained from the sink l2, bleeder air being supplied from the hose 52. the water and air flowing through the outer chamber or passage 50 into and through the inner passage 63 to the hose 65. When the handle 16 is closed. it closes the valve 84, the valve 86 is closed when handle is moved and valve 88 is closed when the users foot is lifted therefrom. When all these valves have been closed. for a predetermined time. that necessary to increase the pressure of the air in the reservoir 78 and the diaphragm chamber 72, the diaphragm 66 closes on the valve seat 71 to stop flow of water from the hose 22. The delay is caused by the action of the resrictor 80 which allows only a restricted flow of air therethrough. The delay is only of a few seconds. that time necessary to fully drain the sink. If desired. an adjustable needle valve may be connected in parallel with the restrictor 80 or substituted for the restrictor 80.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vacuum drain,

trap means.

a valve unit having closure means and a body provided with a first inlet connected to the trap means, a second inlet connected to the atmosphere, and an outlet.

vacuum means connected to the outlet for withdrawing liquid from the trap means and air from the second inlet,

the valve having a closure member movable between a closed position closing the inlets from the outlet and an open position opening the inlets to the outlet,

and control means for moving the closure member selectively to one or the other of its positions.

2. The vacuum drain of claim 1 wherein the trap means comprises flexible hose.

3. The vacuum drain of claim 1 wherein the valve unit is adapted to be mounted on a wall.

4. The vacuum drain of claim 1 wherein the control means includes pneumatic operating means, and manually operable remote control means for actuating the operating means.

5. The vacuum drain of claim 4 wherein the remote control means is operable by a sink faucet supplying liquid to the trap means.

6. The vacuum drain of claim 1 wherein the valve body includes a valve seat, the valve unit including a diaphragm movable between a closed position engaging the seat and an open position retracted from the seat,

the valve unit including operating means for moving the diaphragm between these positions.

7. The vacuum drain of claim 6 wherein the operating means includes spring means biasing the diaphragm toward one of said positions and fluid pressure means for moving the diaphragm to the other of said positions.

8. The vacuum drain of claim 6 wherein the valve body has an annular groove surrounding the valve seat and the operating means includes a compression spring seated in the annular groove and pressing the diaphragm away from the valve seat.

9. The vacuum drain of claim 8 including a domed cover secured to the body and forming a diaphragm chamber with the diaphragm.

10. The vacuum drain of claim 6 wherein the operating means includes reservoir means connected to one side of the diaphragm supply means including a restrictor for supplying fluid under pressure at a predetermined rate to the reservoir means, and actuating means for relieving pressure in the reservoir much faster than said rate.

11. The vacuum drain of claim 10 wherein the restrictor comprises a foraminous body. 

1. In a vacuum drain, trap means, a valve unit having closure means and a body provided with a first inlet connected to the trap means, a second inlet connected to the atmosphere, and an outlet, vacuum means connected to the outlet for withdrawing liquid from the trap means and air from the second inlet, the valve having a closure member movable between a closed position closing the inlets from the outlet and an open position opening the inlets to the outlet, and control means for moving the closure member selectively to one or the other of its positions.
 2. The vacuum drain of claim 1 wherein the trap means comprises flexible hose.
 3. The vacuum drain of claim 1 wherein the valve unit is adapted to be mounted on a wall.
 4. The vacuum drain of claim 1 wherein the control means includes pneumatic operating means, and manually operable remote control means for actuating the operating means.
 5. The vacuum drain of claim 4 wherein the remote control means is operable by a sink faucet supplying liquid to the trap means.
 6. The vacuum drain of claim 1 wherein the valve body includes a valve seat, the valve unit including a diaphragm movable between a closed position engaging the seat and an open position retracted from the seat, the valve unit including operating means for moving the diaphragm between these positions.
 7. The vacuum drain of claim 6 wherein the operating means includes spring means biasing the diaphragm toward one of said positions and fluid pressure means for moving the diaphragm to the other of said positions.
 8. The vacuum drain of claim 6 wherein the valve body has an annular groove surrounding the valve seat and the operating means includes a compression spring seated in the annular groove and pressing the diaphragm away from the valve seat.
 9. The vacuum drain of claim 8 including a domed cover secured to the body and forming a diaphragm chamber with the diaphragm.
 10. The vacuum drain of claim 6 wherein the operating means includes reservoir means connected to one side of the diaphragm supply means including a restrictor for supplying fluid under pressure at a predetermined rate to the reservoir means, and actuating means for relieving pressure in the reservoir much faster than said rate.
 11. The vacuum drain of claim 10 wherein the restrictor comprises a foraminous body. 